• LSRA has launched a five minute online anonymous survey to gather the views and experiences of individuals who qualified as a solicitor or barrister in or after 2014 and who have chosen not to practise at this time.
  • The survey will inform research and a report to the Minister for Justice on economic and other barriers faced by early career solicitors and barristers.

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has launched an important online survey of recently qualified solicitors and barristers who are currently not practising.

The LSRA is seeking the views of individuals who have qualified as a barrister or solicitor in or after 2014 by completing professional training with the Honorable Society of King’s Inns or the Law Society of Ireland and have chosen not to practise as a barrister or solicitor at this time. This includes people who qualified and never practised and also people who did practise for a time in the past, but are not currently practising.

The LSRA is carrying out the online anonymous survey following a request from the Minister for Justice for the Authority to consider the economic and other barriers faced by young barristers and solicitors and to make recommendations.

The survey is being conducted with independent research company Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A). It will run until 18th February 2022.

The survey fieldwork will inform the LSRA’s forthcoming report to the Minister for Justice. This Minister asked the LSRA to examine:

  • The remuneration of trainee barristers and solicitors;
  • The other costs associated with joining each profession;
  • The information available to prospective trainee barristers and solicitors on available masters and solicitors firms;
  • The information available on the terms and conditions available, and how they are selected;
  • Any other barriers faced by young barristers and solicitors, including the ability to take maternity leave.

The LSRA has been asked by the Minster to pay particular attention to equity of access and entry into the legal professions and the objective of achieving greater diversity within the professions, and to make recommendations for change.

Last year, as part of the same research, the LSRA undertook a comprehensive survey of trainee and early career solicitors and barristers, as well as law undergraduates. The Authority also invited written submissions from stakeholders and the public.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority was established in 2016 under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The Authority regulates the provision of legal services by legal practitioners and ensures the maintenance and improvement of standards in the provision of such services in the State. The LSRA is independent in the performance of its functions.

Further details of this LSRA survey are available here: https://www.lsra.ie/survey-of-non-practising-solicitors-and-barristers/

Media Contact: Nuala Haughey. Email: [email protected] Tel: 087-2867510

Download this press release as a pdf here.